So, Why have your chimney swept?

Chimney fires are dangerous and can cause serious damage to your house, or even personal injury. Creosote builds up on the inside of a chimney liner and eventually causes a blockage of air flow, this , in turn, leads to extreme temperatures inside the chimney liner, eventually causing the creosote to ignite. Chimney fires can be avoided by having your chimney swept or inspected regularly. Aside from the dangers of a chimney fire, the traditional brick and mortar chimney will often succumb to the weather and wear and tear becomes more evident over time. Regular inspections can catch and prevent more serious problems, such as having to reline a chimney, or even rebuild it.

SAFETY CHECKLIST

1. Make sure your chimney sweep is CSIA Certified and experienced. At Classic Chimney, we are.

2. Schedule chimney service and inspection once annually.

3. Check the wood you burn in your fireplace – it should be well-dried, seasoned hardwood.

4. Monitor your carbon monoxide detector – repair or replace if necessary.

5. If you don't already have one, install a chimney cap.

6. Check to ensure that your chimney is waterproof.

7. Chimney flashing needs regular inspection and maintenance.

8. Does your wood-burning system have a sealing damper? If not, install one.

9. A correct chimney liner is critical to your safety. Have it professionally checked and changed if necessary.

10. Have your chimney thoroughly checked after major lightening/storm events.

One of the less obvious and most threatening dangers lies in the fact that wood burning produces creosote, a highly combustible by-product. Creosote deposits need to be taken care of in order to keep homes safe from the threat of destructive chimney fires.

In this time of economic crisis, you should consider owning a fireplace/ stove/ insert to reduce energy bills to heat homes. REMEMBER when making the transaction from oil to a wood stove/ fireplace/ insert must be maintenance differently, meaning that YOU cannot assume there is little or no maintenance required. To assume such things is extremely hazardous, therefore annual cleanings must be performed in order to ensure chimneys safety.

Maintenance to chimneys is mandatory to insure the safety of your home and family.

If chimney fire occurs, the chimney must be inspected as soon as possible before used again.

Homeowners should advise in purchasing special Chimney Fire Extinguishers.